Riordan Land in Ireland- Where and when?

A third cousin recently had time in the Valuation Office in Dublin, and offered to look up some of my land queries- so I gathered together some of the info I had for the Riordan (and Malone) families. Thanks Maggie! https://www.iwikiwi.com/

I knew from his marriage record that my great-grandfather Patrick Riordan was born in Curraheen, Co Limerick, about 1843 to John Riordan and Bidy Quane. I searched in several townlands called Curraheen with no luck- distinct lack of Riordans, Malones, Quanes or O'Donnells.  In the end, thanks to something I managed to find on Google, it looked like the place name had changed, and the farm was at Cullane South, Ballylanders Parish, Co Limerick, not far from Mitchelstown and Galbally. On the section I found via Griffiths, there was an old fort/tower called Carheen on the property.

 Some of the bits and pieces I found included:

1829 Tithe Applotment Book- widow Riordan is living in Curraheen in the parish of Ballylanders.                         (Also a John Quane in Knockbrack in parish of Ballylanders).

 1826- John Riordan listed as gaining lease of land at Cullane South, Ballylanders, No20.

This would seem to possibly be my 2x-great-grandfather John Riordan. Note Patrick Creagh and Jno Creagh at nearby sections (18,19) (Suspect intermarriage between families)

 On Griffiths Valuation- John Riordan has section 20 in Cullane South. A Modern overlay map shows the property is bordered by Cullane S road and Tully Rd, and is to the east of the River Ahapurca.

 1850 June 4^th- Ellen, daughter of John Riordan and Bidy Quane baptised. Last daughter in family, Bridget, born 1855.

 1871-1874- Ballylanders Evictions. New landlord, Charles Wilmot Smith, put up rents hugely. Some tenants evicted when couldn’t pay. John Riordan appears to be one of these. However, 1870 Land Act came into play, and eventually by 1874 it seems most were readmitted to their holdings. A William Creagh was the bailiff and was very unpopular. I have many DNA matches with Creagh descendants, and it seems that perhaps John Riordan’s sister might have married a Creagh, and he left for Queensland.

1877- 28 April 1877, James Riordan, the brother of Patrick Riordan, married Bridget Hanlon in church at Ballylanders.

Census 1901 James – family listed as residents of a house 12 in Cullane South
Don’t know if they have shifted from property 20, or if things have been renumbered. It's possible John Riordan bought a Creagh property when he left for Australia.
Census 1911; listed on census as living in house 10 in Cullane South.

Extract of Census Return 1916- for James Riordan Address still given as Cullane South; James Riordan’s address living with Michael O’Riordan (Michael was born in Cullane 1883.)

1916 2nd Feb, Farm transferred to son Michael Riordan (O’Riordan) on his marriage.

1921- War of Independence, death of William O’Riordan, son of James Riordan and Bridget Hanlon, James still appears to be living on farm. (Info from various sources including newspapers and military records.)

Michael – seems to have died young. His wife was forced to sell holding to pay debts – sometime between 1916 and 1931.
1931 James Riordan died

That's enough of the bits and pieces. If you are reading this and think you might be a Riordan descendant from Cullane South, I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

I also have some 'bits and pieces' about the Malone family, between nearby Ballyfeerode townland, and Ballynadrideen, Ballyhea Parish, just over the border in Co Cork. But the connections involve a lot of supposition at this stage! One day I might blog about them!